Gingerbread Addition Mats

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s been fun brainstorming and prepping some hands on centers like these gumdrop addition mats. Use them with real gumdrops (yum!) or even use play dough, unifix cubes, or fun Christmas erasers as counters. No matter how you play, these are a great activity for building addition skills within 10.

Gumdrop Addition Mats

To get these gingerbread mats ready, I printed them out on cardstock and laminated them. This way I can use them with a dry erase marker over and over again.

I decided to play with real gumdrops. I recommend giving each kid their own cup of gumdrops to play with. They can play and then eat them!

Or, you can have a designated bowl of gumdrops NOT for eating. I find that most kids will respect that rule because they don’t want to lose the privilege of playing the game.

I used two separate colors of gumdrops to build equations. This gives a good visual for kids that two separate sets are being combined to form a new total.

First we had 2+3. We put out 2 red gumdrops and 3 green gumdrops.

How many gumdrops in all? We have 5! So we wrote 5 in the box with our dry erase marker.

We then cleared off our card and grabbed another to solve!

Grab Your Copy

Ready to play with the gumdrop addition mats? Grab your own copy by clicking the yellow button at the very end of this post.

Then, head over and grab our Gingerbread Math and Literacy Centers to have centers for the month ready to go!

Be sure to check out these 20 awesome gingerbread activities for kids from some of my favorite kid bloggers too!

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Gingerbread Math – Making Five // Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station

Gingerbread Pattern Cards // The STEM Laboratory

Science Christmas Ornaments: Long Lasting Gingerbread Ornaments // Schooling a Monkey

Initial Sound Gingerbread Puzzles // A Dab of Glue Will Do

Decorate a Gingerbread Man Art Activity // Mom Inspired Life

Gingerbread Addition Mats // The Kindergarten Connection

Gingerbread Coverall Games // Recipe for Teaching

Gingerbread Man Counting Cards // Sara J Creations

Gingerbread Pre-Writing Strips // Letters of Literacy

Gingerbread Clip Cards // Fun With Mama

Gingerbread 2D Shape Match and Count // Liz’s Early Learning Spot

Gingerbread Story Sequencing // DIY Farm Wife

Gingerbread Play Dough// Play and Learn Everyday

Gingerbread House Building STEM // Science Kiddo

Gingerbread Ten Frame Counting Mats // Modern Preschool

Gingerbread Man Busy Box // Teach Me Mommy

Gingerbread Man Sight Word Game // Playdough to Plato

Gingerbread Man Stamping // Simple Play Ideas

Gingerbread Number Line Addition to 12 // Fairy Poppins

Gingerbread Man Addition Cork Board Game // Adventures of Adam

Download Gumdrop Addition Cards Below

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Alex

Founder at The Kindergarten Connection

Alex is a Kindergarten teacher with a passion for making learning fun and engaging. She's earned a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education, and Masters Degrees in Special Education and Curriculum Design. Alex is a night owl, coffee lover, and she owns more than 2,000 children’s books. Alex lives with her husband and their big black Labrador, Tank.

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